Hammer for driving piles by impact or by vibrating action



Sept. 1, 1964 M. HORNSTEIN HAMMER FOR DRIVING FILES BY IMPACT OR BY VIBRATING ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Tic d'fl.

Filed Dec. 17, 1962 N 11 6 H .Y 104 4 my W HWM Y B 5 37 4 3 q o 6 Sept. 1, 1964 M. HORNSTEIN 3,146,835

HAMMER FOR DRIVING FILES BY IMPACT OR BY VIBRATING ACTION Filed Dec. 1'7, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 72 INVENTOR MOSES HOPNSTE/N ATTORNEY United States Patent York Filed Dec. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 245,149 9 Claims. (Cl. 173-48) The invention herein disclosed relates to the driving of piles by impact or by vibratory methods.

The direct hammer method of ramming a pile into place by impact has advantages of simplicity and freedom from electrical and other complications, whereas the method of sinking a pile by vibratory action has advantages which can be realized when driving under lighter soil conditions.

As subsoil conditions vary it is of advantage to change from one method of operation to the other.

This in the past has made it necessary to remove the hammer and substitute a vibrating unit, with necessary electrical connections for operating the vibrating motor or to take off the vibrating unit and its electrical connections and substitute the hammer, both expensive time consuming operations and involving the need for maintaining these two separate forms of drive units and their appurtenances.

It is an object of this invention to furnish a combination unit which may be operated either as an ordinary pile hammer or as a vibratory hammer and to accomplish this without need for installing or removing electrical or other such expensive and time consuming complications.

Particularly it is a purpose of the invention to be able to change instantly from one type of operation to the other and to control each form of operation independently of the other.

Further special objects of the invention are to combine the structures required for two forms of operation in the one machine in a thoroughly practical manner, with each to operate at full efiiciency and without affecting action of the other in any way.

Other important objects of the invention are to combine the necessary structural features without adding objectionably to the bulk or dimensions of the dual purpose machine.

Other special objects of the invention are to provide this combined impact and vibratory hammer in a simple rugged form, free of exposed or complicated parts and well adapted to withstand the necessarily rough usage to which pile driving hammers are subjected.

The foregoing and other desirable objects and the novel features of construction, combination and relation of parts through which such objects are attained are set forth and will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate a present practical embodiment of the invention. Structure however may be modified and changed as regards the immediate illustration, all within the true intent and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

FIG. 1 in the drawings is a vertical, sectional view of one of the new dual action hammers, illustrating position of the parts with the vibrator in action and the ram in- 3,146,835 Patented Sept. 1, 1964 ice active, the ram down on the anvil and the anvil vibrating piston at the bottom of its stroke.

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing position of the parts with the ram in action, shown at the top of its stroke and the vibrating piston stationary at the top of its stroke.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal, sectional view on substantially the plane of line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on substantially the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a broken sectional detail on substantially the plane of line 55 of FIG. 2, showing the brake for holding the sliding valve rod which governs operation of the ram.

As shown in these several views the invention consists basically of a hammer cylinder 10, having a ram 11 operating in the lower end against an anvil 12 and a piston 13 operating in the upper end and having a vibration trans mitting connection extending down past the ram to the anvil.

The vibration transmitting connection is shown as a heavy compression spring 14 in upward thrust relation with the piston and a rodlike stem 15 extending down through a central bore 16 in the ram, to the anvil.

This stem may be an integral portion of the anvil, as indicated.

The engagement of the spring with the anvil stem is effected in the illustration by a collar 17 pinned on the stem at 18 and forming an abutment for the lower end of the spring.

The upper end of the spring is shown engaged with a thrust plate 19 and a resilient cushion 20 in the form of a nylon pad or the like is shown interposed between this thrust plate and the bottom of the piston.

The piston is shown formed with a dependent skirt 21, providing a confining cavity and seat for the upper end of the spring, the thrust plate and the cushion.

The upper end portion of the stem is shown reduced in diameter and extended up within the spring to a point short of the upward stroke of the piston, thus to be engaged by the thrust plate and serve as a stop 22, limiting the downward stroke of the piston. FIG. 1.

The vibrating piston operates within a cylindrical extension 23 of reduced diameter, at the upper end of the main cylinder.

Valving for effecting automatic operation of the vibrating piston is provided in the illustration by means of an upwardly projecting stem 24 on the piston, operating in a passage 25 extending from an inlet 26, FIG. 2, up to a surrounding chamber 27 from which side passages 28, FIG. 1, extend down into the upper end of cylinder 23 above the piston.

The upper end of the piston stem 24 carries a cutoff valve element 29 arranged to close the upper end of the supply passage 25 in the lower position of the piston, FIG. 1, and to open this passage to chamber 27 in the upper position of the piston, FIG. 2.

This piston projection 24 thus operates as a slide valve controlling admission of pressure fluid.

The upward stroke of the piston is shown cushioned by a resilient pad 30 seated in the upper end of the valve stem and engageable with the cap 31 closing the upper end of the valve stem passage.

Exhaust of pressure fluid is automatically eifected on the downstroke of the piston by ports 32, FIG. 2, in the sides of the piston, open to the top of the piston by passages 33, coming into register with ports 34 in the Wall of the cylinder, which are open to an exhaust chamber 35 surrounding the cylinder and having exhaust outlets 36.

Automatic operation of the ram is effected in the illustration by provision of ports 37 and 38, FIG. 2, in the cylinder, at the upper and lower ends of travel of the ram, open to opposite sides of the intermediate piston forming portion 39 of the ram and adapted to be communicated alternately with upper and lower inlet chambers 40, 41 and an intermediate exhaust chamber 42, and slide valves 43, 44 on rod 45, actuated by oppositely acting bell cranks 46, 47, having rollers 48, 49, engageable by the cam portions 50, 51 on opposite ends of the ram.

Operation of these valve actuating rockers is cushioned by pads 52, 53 positioned for engagement by the rod engaging arms 54, 55 of these rockers.

The pads, as shown in FIG. 1, also serve to limit the longitudinal movement of the valve rod and the inward ram engaging rocking movement of the bell cranks.

The slide valves 43, 44 are held in set position for the timed strokes of the ram by spring pressed friction pads 56, FIG. 5, engaged with valve rod 45 and adjusted to proper tension by set screw 57.

Air relief is provided at opposite ends of the ram travel by the passages 58, 59 in the cylinder, for the valve actuating rockers, which are protected by screens 69, 61.

To enable quick change over from impact to vibration drive or vice versa a common control valve mechanism is provided, FIG. 2, consisting of slide valves 62, 63 on rod 64 operating in a valve casing 65 to govern flow from a supply port 6 5, to the ports 67 and 68, connected by piping 69, 70, respectively with the inlet ports to the ram and to the vibrator, this compound valve being operable by a pivoted hand lever 71 or equivalent.

Special means may be provided to prevent accidental shift of control from one system to the other, such as a detent limiting movement of the control lever through a certain angle to control operation of the ram or through a different angle to control operation of the vibrator.

The anvil is shown as confined to the lower end of the hammer cylinder by links 72.

To secure the hammer rigid to the piling, for vibrating action the anvil is shown as equipped with a quick engageable and releasable high pressure pile clamp 73.

With the clamp set on a pile the hammer may be operated either for impact or vibration driving and be controlled in the operation selected, without affecting or being affected by the other system of operation.

If conditions are propitious the changeover may be made at any time and be continued or terminated as determined by conditions encountered.

The vibrator being of reduced diameter and located entirely at the top does not interfere with the usual hammer operations and leaves the hammer free to be used with the usual leads and other pile driving equipment.

The ram and vibrator being driven from the same power source, steam or compressed air in the illustrated embodiment, avoids any need for electrical or other, extra connections.

While the structure illustrated is considered a presently preferred form of the invention it is realized that changes may be made to suit special requirements, all within the true scope of the invention. For example, it is contemplated that other resilient connecting means, such as air springs, may be used in place of the coiled spring vibratory transmission connection between the vibrating piston and anvil.

The vibrator and the ram are both of the reciprocating type and aligned to apply reciprocating force in the line of desired movement, conserving the full energy of these parts and avoiding the complexity and electrical and mechanical difliculties of electric motors and rotating unbalanced weights such as heretofore employed in sonic vibration pile driving equipment.

In combining the two forms of drive in the relation disclosed the ram, by its weight, adds to the effectiveness of the vibrator and the vibrator, by the added weight, aids in the operation of the ram.

The use of steam or compressed air for operation of both the ram and the vibrator enables the simplest form of connections, free of electrical complications and provides graduated, unrestricted control of the vibratory rate, the latter being particularly important in avoiding damaging vibration to adjoining property.

The pile clamp shown at 73, in FIG. 1, also may be pressure operated, so that power for all actuating means for the hammer may be derived from the same fluid pressure source.

The vibration transmitting connection extending from the vibratory motor down, free and clear of the ram, to the anvil, enables the vibrator to operate independently of the ram and the ram to remain inactive while the vibrator is in action and the ram to operate independently of the vibrator and the vibrator to remain inactive while the ram is in operation.

In the position of the control valve illustrated in FIG. 2, full power is being supplied through the connections 65, 69 to the ram while the vibrator is shut off by valve 62 and remains at rest While the ram is in action.

By shifting the valve parts to the left in FIG. 2, the supply of motive fluid to the ram will be cut off by valve element 63 and the other valve element 62 will admit motive fluid through the line 70 to the vibrating motor.

This valve mechanism may be used in either instance with throttling effect to govern speed and force of the ram or of the vibrator.

When the ram is in action, as indicated in FIG. 2, the vibration piston 13 will be supported by spring 14 at the upper end of its stroke leaving the ram free to act on the anvil with impact effect.

When the vibrator is in action as indicated in FIG. 1, the spring 14 operates both to return the piston to the top of its stroke and to transmit vibration to the anvil through column 15, supplemented by engagement of the piston with the upper end of the column, substantially as indicated in FIG. 1.

The piston may be cushioned to some extent at opposite ends of its stroke by cushions indicated at 20 and 30, FIG. 1, depending on action of the valve mechanism controlling movement of the piston.

What is claimed is:

I l. A hammer for driving piling by impact or by vibrating atcion, comprising the combination of a working cylinder,

an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder,

an impact ram in said cylinder in driving engagement relation with said anvil,

a vibratory piston in the upper portion of said cylinder above and free of said ram,

a vibration transmitting connection extending from said piston, past and free of said ram, down to said anvil,

engageable and disengageable means for gripping said anvil in rigid, vibration transmitting engagement on piling to be driven, and

fluid pressure power supply connections extending to said ram and to said vibrating piston, including means for switching power from the ram to the vibratory piston and vice versa and for controlling operation of each form of drive independently of the other,

said ram having an opening up through the center of the same and said vibration transmitting connection including a stem projecting from the anvil up through the opening in the ram and a compression spring interposed between the piston and said stem.

2. The invention according to claim 1 with said stem projecting up beyond the upper end of the ram into position to stop downward movement of the piston short of engagement with or by the ram.

3. A hammer for driving piling by impact or by vibrating action, comprising the combination of a hammer cylinder, an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder, a vibratory piston operable in the upper end portion of said cylinder, a stem projecting from said anvil up through the cylinder toward said vibratory piston, a resilient drive connection between said piston and said stem, a ram operating in the lower end portion of the cylinder in cooperative relation with said anvil, said ram having a central opening through which said stem extends, and independently controlled power supply connections extending to said ram and to said vibratory piston respectively. 4. A hammer for driving piling by impact or by vibrating action, comprising the combination of a hammer cylinder, an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder, a vibratory piston operable in the upper end portion of said cylinder, a stern projecting from said anvil up through the cylinder toward said vibratory piston, a resilient drive connection between said piston and said stern, a ram operating in the lower end portion of the cylinder in cooperative relation with said anvil, said ram having a central opening through which said stem extends, and independently controlled power supply connections extending to said ram and to said vibratory piston respectively, said resilient connection being a compression spring, a thrust plate abutment for the upper end of said spring, and a resilient cushion between said thrust plate and piston. 5. A hammer for driving piling by impact or by vibrating action, comprising the combination of a hammer cylinder, an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder, a vibratory piston operable in the upper end portion of said cylinder, a stern projecting from said anvil up through the cylinder toward said vibratory piston, a resilient drive connection between said piston and said stem, a ram operating in the lower end portion of the cylinder in cooperative relation with said anvil, said ram having a central opening through which said stem extends, independently controlled power supply connections extending to said ram and to said vibratory piston respectively, and resilient cushions limiting stroke of the piston in opposite directions. 6. A hammer for driving piling by impact or by vibrating action, comprising the combination of a hammer cylinder, an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder, a vibratory piston operable in the upper end portion of said cylinder, a stem projecting from said anvil up through the cylinder toward said vibratory piston, a resilient drive connection between said piston and said stem, a ram operating in the lower end portion of the cylinder in cooperative relation with said anvil, said ram having a central opening through which said stern extends,

i and independently controlled power supply connections extending to said ram and to said vibratory piston respectively,

said resilient connection being a compression spring,

a thrust plate abutment for the upper end of said spring,

a resilient cushion between said thrust plate and piston, and

a collar fixed on the anvil stem and forming an abutment for the lower end of the spring and said anvil stem extending up within the spring into position for engagement by said thrust plate to limit the down ward stroke of the piston.

7. A hammer for driving piling by impact or by vibrating action, comprising the combination of a hammer cylinder,

an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder,

a vibratory piston operable in the upper end portion of said cylinder,

a stem projecting from said anvil up through the cylinder toward said vibratory piston,

a resilient drive connection between said piston and said stem,

a ram operating in the lower end portion of the cylinder in cooperative relation with said anvil,

said ram having a central opening through which said stem extends, and

independently controlled power supply connections extending to said ram and to said vibratory piston respectively,

the power supply connections to the ram including a reciprocating valve element controlling inlet and exhaust functions at opposite ends of travel of the ram in the cylinder, and

means for yieldingly holding said valve element in positions to which it has been shifted by the ram.

8. A single unitary hammer for driving piling by impact or by vibrating action, comprising the combination of a working cylinder,

an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder,

an impact ram in said cylinder in cooperative relation with said anvil,

fluid pressure vibratory operating means for vibrating said hammer at pile driving frequency in the upper portion of said cylinder above said ram,

vibration transmitting connection means extending from said vibratory operating means down through the cylinder, free of the ram, to said anvil,

engageable and disengageable means for gripping said anvil in rigid vibration transmitting engagement on piling to be driven and fluid pressure supply connections extending to said working cylinder and to said vibratory means, including means for switching power from the ram to the vibratory means and vice versa and for controlling operation of each of said forms of drive independently of the other.

9. A single unitary hammer for driving piling either by impact or by vibrating action comprising the combination of a working cylinder,

an anvil at the lower end of said cylinder, a ram in said cylinder in cooperative relation with said anvil,

a vibratory motor at the upper end of said cylinder for vibrating said hammer at pile driving frequency,

said ram being operable independently of said motor and said motor being operable independently of the ram so that said motor may remain inactive while the ram is in operation and the ram remain inactive while the motor is in operation,

vibration transmitting connections extending from said vibratory motor down, free of the ram, to said anvil, enabling the ram to remain at rest when the vibratory motor is in operation and the motor to remain inactive when the ram is in operation,

means for controlling operation of the ram independently of the vibratory motor,

means for controlling operation of the vibratory motor independently of the ram, and

releasable means for rigidly connecting the anvil With piling when the vibratory motor is put into action.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 241,654 Hawks May 17, 1881 8 Baker Dec. 13, 1892 Roberts July 18, 1893 Reilly Nov. 10, 1903 Curnow June 30, 1914 Da Costa Dec. 15, 1925 Blumenthal May 9, 1933 Kimball Nov. 8, 1955 Candill Jan, 31, 1961 Bothwell Feb. 26, 1963 

8. A SINGLE UNITARY HAMMER FOR DRIVING PILING BY IMPACT OR BY VIBRATING ACTION, COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF A WORKING CYLINDER, AN ANVIL AT THE LOWER END OF SAID CYLINDER, AN IMPACT RAM IN SAID CYLINDER IN COOPERATIVE RELATION WITH SAID ANVIL, FLUID PRESSURE VIBRATORY OPERATING MEANS FOR VIBRATING SAID HAMMER AT PILE DRIVING FREQUENCY IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CYLINDER ABOVE SAID RAM, VIBRATION TRANSMITTING CONNECTION MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID VIBRATORY OPERATING MEANS DOWN THROUGH THE CYLINDER, FREE OF THE RAM, TO SAID ANVIL, ENGAGEABLE AND DISENGAGEABLE MEANS FOR GRIPPING SAID ANVIL IN RIGID VIBRATION TRANSMITTING ENGAGEMENT ON PILING TO BE DRIVEN AND FLUID PRESSURE SUPPLY CONNECTIONS EXTENDING TO SAID WORKING CYLINDER AND TO SAID VIBRATORY MEANS, INCLUDING MEANS FOR SWITCHING POWER FROM THE RAM TO 